Electrical connection for spark-plugs, &amp;c.



H. B. SHERMAN AND F. D. MALTBY, ELECTRICAL CONNECTION FOR SPARK PLUGS,84c. APPLICATION man :mzz. 1919.

14352033 memease t. 7,19%

' narrsn HOWARD B. SHERMAN AND FRANK D. MALTBY, OF BATTLE MALTBYASSIGNOR TO SAID SHERMA ELECTRICAL GGNNECTION FOR SPARK-PLUGS,

Application filed January 22, 1919.

To a whom. it may concern Be it known that we, l'lownnn l3. SHER- MANand FRANK D. Miinrui', citizens; of the United States, residing atBattle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain .new and useful improvements in Electrical Connectionsfor Spark-Plugs, &c.; and we hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

()ur invention relates to means for con- I by such methods.

Our invention enables good electrical connection to be made very quicklyand easily, as hereinafter explained.

The objects of our invention are to enable the parts of such connectioisto be readily applied to the conductor and spark plug or post; and toenable the conductor, or supply wire, to be readily connected with aspark plug, binding post, etc., without requiring any special tools orany special mechanical skill.

In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated one practicalembodiment of the" invention andwill describe the same to enable othersskilled in the art to adopt and use the invention; but we do notconsider the invention restricted tov the particular -;constructionshown, except as parts thereof may be specifically defined in some ofthe claims.

In the claims We have summarized the novel essentials and novel featuresof con 5Q..s truction and novel combinations of parts for'a1l of whichprotection is desired.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of a complete electrical connectlon between aconductor or supply Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. '7, 1920.. Serial No. 272,487.

such connection emprcsent preferred form of wire and a spark-plug;bodying the at the invention.

Fig. 2 is an the terminal connected to the supply wire.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the cap nut and spring connectedwith the spark plug.

Fig. l is a further enlarged top plan View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the electrical connection shown in Fig.at.

T he conductor or supply wire C may be of the usual kind; being shown asa copper wire or cable incased in an insulating covering. The conductor0 is usually rovided with some kind of a terminal electrically connectedwith the conductor and adapted to facilitate engagement thereof with thestem of a spark plug, or binding post. The spark plug P may be of anysuitablekind, and as shown has a threaded stem or binding post 3) uponwhich a nut is usually screwed to clamp the end or terminal of theconductor C thereto.

In our invention the insulating covering of the conductor 0 can bestripped off the end of the wire, and such bared end is then insertedinto one end of a sleeve 1, preferably formed of insulating material.This sleeve (see Fig. 2) has an internal partition 1 provided with asmall aperture for the passage of the bared end of the conductor,

CREEK, MICHIGAN; sA'In enlarged sectional view of which is usually madeup of a plurality of fine wires, and the ends of the wires, projectingthrough the partition 1, are bent or turned against the face of thepartition and pinched thereagainst by the shank2, of a novel terminal.

This terminal is preferably made of copper or other suitable conducto ofelectricity, and as shown in Fig. 1 has althreaded shank 2 and a tongue2. The terminal shank 2 is screwed into the threaded end of the sleeve1, opposite that end into which the conductor C is entered; and the*shank seats upon the ends of the conductor wires and not only makes anexcellent electrical connection therewith but also unites the wiresmechanically to the sleeve by the screw pressure exerted on the ends ofthe Wires against the partition 1 so the wires cannot be withdrawn fromthe sleeve:

'The tongue 2 of the terminal mav be en- 1 gaged with a preferablpreferably member attached to a'binding post, or spark plug shank, ashereinafter described.

In the shown in igs. 1 to 5, a cap 3, of brass or other suitable metal,is provided with an internally threaded recess 3 by which it can bereadily engaged with the end of the binding post, or shank p of the asindicated in the drawings.- ThlS cap 3 v has a peripheral flange 3 onits upper end, the underside of which is engaged by the ends 4? of aspring retainer 4,

also preferably made of suitable conducting metal, which extendsdiametrically across the top of the cap and has its ends 4 bent underthe flange 3 as shown; '(see Figs. 8 and 4). The-inner edges of the ends4" of the spring are preferably concaved as shown in Fig. side of thecap 3, and these ends. 4* prevent the spring 4 being disengaged from thecap, while permitting'it to be turned .upon the ihe retainer 4 has aloop or bend 4*, ,at its center, which is adapted to be entered nal.Said tongue can be inserted into the loop 4 and forced. between theretainer 4 and cap3" (as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4) a and whensoinsertedit is tightly clamped against the cap 3 by the retainer.

The retainer maintain the'cap 3 in place on the stem p by preventing,its rattling loose or'unscrewing. As the retainer 4 can swivel orturnaround on cap 3 it is possible to shift the retainer so that thetongue 2 can be readily engaged .in the loop 4 no matter at 'what pointof rotation the cap'seats on the binding post or stem, or the spark plugseats in the engine cylinder. This preventsbreaking or bending of theconductor, as it can always be led straight to the retainer on the capwithout bending or cramping the wires as in other devices.

In the construction shown the sleeve can ---belrnailily attached to theconductor; the

' .With these connections, a car owner,

he has spark plug trouble, does not have to take a pair of pliers andunscrew a nut to withdraw the terminal, but can simply} take hold of thesleeve 1, or the cable back referred form of construction,

spark plug,

5, so as to fit against the outer by the tongue 2 of'the termi 4 servesboth to electrically unite the tongue 2 to the cap 3, and to also I ofthe sleeve'andjerk the terminal tongue out of the cap -He can thendetermine whether there is any spark action between the spark plug andthe terminal by wiping the tongue against any part of-rthe'spark plug orpost that would give electrical connection and show a spark if the partswere in proper condition; and can easily renew theconnection or makerepairs thereof or 'substitute new parts, it necessary, without the useof special tools.

What we claim is: In an electrical connection of the char acterspecified, a gap adapted to be engaged\ with a bindingpost or shank ofan electricij device, and having a peripheral flange, at}

retainer s ring having its ends engaged withsaid ange to secure it onthe cap, and

having a bent portion adapted to be en-' gaged with a conductorterminal.

2. In an electrical connection of thecharacter specified, a cap havingan internally threaded socket, for engagement with the threaded bindingpost or shank of an electrical device; and a spring retainer extendingacross and attached to said cap and providedwith a bent portion formingan eye for engagement with the terminal of a conductor. 1 j

3. In an electrical connection of the type specified, a cap adapted tobe attached to "a binding post and make electrical contact therewith;and a spring retainer plate extending across the upper end of the capand having a central loop adapted to permit a terminal to be insertedbetween said plate and capand to bind the terminal to the cap when soinserted, substantially as described.

4. An electrical connection for spark plugs and the like, comprisingaflanged cap adapted to be aflixed to a binding post and make electricalcontact therewith; and a spring plate extending across the cap andvhaving its endsloosely engaged with the flange thereof and having acentral bend to allow a terminal to be inserted between the plate andcap, a said spring-binding the 'terminal to the cap when so insertedpsubstantially as described.

. 5. In an electrical connection of the character specified; a caphaving a peripheral flange and provided with an internally threadedsocket for engagement with the threaded binding post or shank of an'elec'- trio device, a retainer spring on top of said cap having its endsbent over and loosely engaged with said flange to retain it on the cap,and provided withan eye to permit a conductor terminal to be insertedbetween the spring' and cap, substantially as described.

r In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we aflix our sinatures.

z HOWARD SHERMAN.

FRANK 'D. MALTBY.

